Should one society end up imposing its standards on other societies? Westernization occurs when non-western societies are influenced by western culture, but the world is not the West and the West is not the world.
As we were about to go and pay our respects to a friend whose mother had passed away, my husband, having lived overseas for decades, suggested we take a bouquet of flowers to the mourning family. I was appalled at the idea: when in mourning, Egyptians do not expect flowers; it’s just not done. It is a somber time, with women wearing black, lots of Quran recital, and tears. This while in western societies, sending flowers to the family of a deceased is a very common gesture. Other gestures include bringing food and celebrating the life of the deceased, and definitely no black attires. Yes, it is a somber moment there, too, but no one can deny the differences.
A Chinese student whom I had taught for several years graduated. As I congratulated her, I gave her a warm hug. Her arms remained loose next to her sides in response. She later told me that she had never been hugged in her life. In the Chinese culture, hugging is awkward as public displays of affection cause embarrassment. My mother, too, Egyptian to the core, never hugged but always gave a peck on both cheeks; the same goes for most Egyptians though this is changing. This while in western countries hugging is a common way to show affection.
When an Egyptian invites a westerner over, he puts on a spread. The westerner is shocked, “Does he expect me to eat all this?” No, the Egyptian doesn’t expect the visitor to eat all what is piled in front of him, but Egyptian hospitality dictates this huge food display. And, when the westerner comes over with a bottle of gourmet vinegar or guest soaps, the Egyptian is confused. Vinegar is sour and soap implies the need for more cleanliness; sweets and dessert are more in order.
In 2013, when George Bush Junior ducked the flying shoes of the journalist who yelled “This is a gift from the Iraqis; this is the farewell kiss, you dog!” western journalists emphasized Bush’s dodging ability ignoring the essence of the gesture as Bush, jokingly, brushed it off, “All I can report is a size 10.” But the flying shoes and the name calling, yes, “dog” is a derogatory term to Arabs, entailed much more, maybe even a redemption of some sort in the eyes of Iraqis, turning the journalist into a hero. No one can deny how different the spectacle was in the eyes of Iraqis from westerners.
Then, Egyptian President El Sisi has often reiterated that differences are normal phenomena. I agree. He once told President Macron that Egypt "is not like Europe or the US," and that it has its own special circumstances. El-Sisi asked others not to forget that Egypt “is located in a troubled region.” This is very true; not only cultures but also circumstances dictate action, approach, and necessities.
Cultural values create different social norms, so we cannot expect nations and peoples to become mirror images of one another. In fact, it is a good thing that we aren’t all alike or else it would’ve been a very boring world. As the world entity gets smaller and smaller, we have to accept the different cultures as they stand. Social norms may surprise, even shock, but trying to impose one culture over another will never work. Standards of shame, modesty, morality, respect, personal freedoms, religious values, and much more will remain stumbling blocks in the face of globalization. In fact, cultural norms set social guidelines that citizens adhere to to fit into the contours of that society, but not necessarily to the contours of other societies.
More importantly, should one society end up imposing its standards on other societies? Westernization occurs when non-western societies are influenced by western culture, but the world is not the West, and the West is not the world. Societies should not adopt western values or take them at face value without looking at their own merited standards, weighing in on the worth of each change and whether it would apply in their case or not. More importantly, the West should not expect the rest of the world to accept its standards as a given.
Western values do not equate globalization and should not be the standard. In fact, western dominance is sometimes seen by some as a continuation of western imperialism. Hence, applying the accepted guidelines of the West in an Asian, Arab, or African society often counteracts and clashes with the society. Besides, the West has its own pitfalls that should be regarded as lessons no one should implement, ethnic cleansing, slavery, colonialism, and racism to name a few.
Recent developments in laws in the West have created even more of a gnawing gap between the West and other societies. Same sex marriage, euthanasia, and pro choice (accepting a woman’s right to abort a pregnancy) are remolding fundamentals. It is not up to non-western societies to appraise such changes; still, it is their prerogative not to accept them.
The western society, itself, is still grappling with these issues, so for the West to expect implementation of such core foundations worldwide is hardly rational. The West should understand that rejecting these concepts is justifiable.
And yet, as societies dispute change, they are besieged with what is enforced upon them through Hollywood images, content platforms such as Netflix, and social media as a whole. This will remain the hardest battle for the world in general: the juxtaposition of what nations believe is their social stands and foreign influences.
Cultural expectations are not the same across the board – to each his or her own.
